UNDERSTANDING THE

ENVIRONMENT -
CONCEPT, IMPORTANCE
AND COMPONENTS
Welcome to the world of the environment - a complex web of
interconnections between the physical, biotic, social, and built
components that shape our planet.

AM
by Arpita Mathur
Interesting fact
Concept of the Environment
Environment
The word
Environment is
“Whatever we see in our surrounding”
derived from the
French word
“ENVIRONNER”
which means to Environment is our basic life support system. It
provides the air ,water, food and land.
surround.
The environment refers to the natural and human-
made surroundings in which we live. It cover
everything from the air we breathe to the land we
inhabit.
 Importance of the Environment
- The environment plays a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth.
It provides essential resources, regulates climate and supports biodiversity.

- Scientific advancement technology development by human should be

supportive for environment sustainability.

- There is need of public awareness for environment conservation.

- Environment helps in cleaning /recycling the air ,water bodies etc.

- To motivate the active participation in environmental protection and

improvement.
 Components of the Environment
Environment has been classified into four major components:

1. Hydrosphere
2. Lithosphere
3. Atmosphere
4. Biosphere.

Hydrosphere includes all water bodies such as lakes, ponds, rivers and ocean etc.
Hydrosphere functions in a cyclic nature, which is termed as hydrological cycle or water cycle.

-The hydrosphere includes all forms of water, from oceans and rivers to groundwater and glaciers. It
supports aquatic ecosystems and is vital for various activities.
Lithosphere mainly, contains soil, earth rocks, mountain etc. Lithosphere is divided into three
layers-crusts, mantle and core (outer and inner).

Biosphere it is otherwise known as the life layer, it refers to all organisms on the earth’s surface
and their interaction with water and air. It consists of plants, animals and micro-organisms,
ranging from the tiniest microscopic organism to the largest whales in the sea.
The study of biosphere is called Biology.

Atmosphere is a thin layer which contains gases like oxygen, carbon dioxide etc. and which
protects the solid earth and human beings from the harmful radiations of the sun. There are five concentric
layers within the atmosphere, which can be differentiated on the basis of temperature and each layer has
its own characteristics. These include the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the
thermosphere and the exosphere.
Lithosphere Layer
 TYPES OF ENVIRONMENT
Environment can be divided into two categories :

1. Natural environment
2. Man – environment

1. Natural environment :

Natural environment is characterized by natural components. All biotic (living) and abiotic
components (non-living) are created through a natural process. Creation of these biotic and
abiotic components do not require any human support.
Example: soil, water, air, tree, radiations, noise, etc.,

2. Man – environment :

Man is the most powerful environmental agent. He modifies the environment using modern
technologies, according to his needs to a great extent. Thus the man-made environment is
created by man.
Example: House, road, schools, railway lines, parks, etc.,
Conclusion
The environment is a complex web of interconnected
elements that provide the foundation for life.
By understanding and respecting the environment, we can
preserve its beauty, promote sustainability, and ensure a
better future for all living beings.
X
Ecosystem: Concept,
Structure, and Function
Welcome to the fascinating world of ecosystems! Explore the complex
interactions, diverse components, and vital functions that shape our
natural environment.
K

By Arpita Mathur
 Ecosystem: Concept
Definition –

Ecosystem is a setup in which all the living organisms sustain and grow by interacting with
each other through physical and chemical factors of the environment linked by transfer of
energy and material. Ecosystem is an aggregate system formed as a result of interaction
X between biotic and abiotic factors.

An ecosystem has both biotic & abiotic components of natural environment .

All plants , animals & human being Depends on their immediate surroundings

Relation between the living organism and their surrounding forms an ecosystem
K
Rain forest, Grassland, Dessert,
Ecosystem Example
Lake, pond etc.

Interesting fact:The term ecosystem was first of all proposed by A.G.Tansley in 1935.
Definition:
Ecosystem is an aggregate system formed as a result of interaction between biotic and abiotic factors.
Structure of Ecosystem
The term ecosystem was first of all proposed by A.G.Tansley in 1935.

Abiotic Components
(Non-Living) Biotic Components( Living)

Physical Chemical
factors factors
Autotrophic Heterotrophic
Components Components
 1. Biotic Components:-
On the basic of nutrient relations of organisms, biotic components divided into three types-

a.) Autotrophic Components:- These are the organisms which can produce
their own food. They used chemical methods like photosynthesis to convert
Carbon dioxide, water and sunlight into oxygen & food for other also.
Also called Producers.
Example- Green Plants, photosynthetic bacteria.

b.) Heterotrophic Components:- They depend directly or indirectly upon the

producers to obtain energy for survival also known as consumers.
Example- all animals consuming plants & their leaves as food.

Consumers are of three types:

• Primary consumers (Herbivores)

• Secondary consumers (Carnivores)
• Tertiary consumers (Top Carnivores)
• Primary consumers (Herbivores):- Herbivores are the plant eaters. They feed on green plants to obtain
energy for survival.
Example- Goat, Cow ,Horses, Rabbits, deer, buffalo, etc.

• Secondary consumers :- These are carnivores and omnivores. Carnivores are flesh eating animals and the
omnivores are the animals that are adapted to consume herbivores as well as plants as their food.
Example- Fox, Lizard, sparrow, crow, dogs, cats, snakes etc.

• Tertiary consumers (Top Carnivores):- These are the top carnivores which prey upon other carnivores,
omnivores and herbivores. Lions, tigers, hawk, vulture, etc. are considered as tertiary or top consumers.

c.) Decomposers:- Decomposers are a group of organisms consisting of small animals like worms, insects,
bacteria and fungi, which break down dead organic material into smaller particles and finally into simpler
substances that are used by plants as nutrition. Decomposition thus is a vital function in nature, as without
this, all the nutrients would be get stuck in dead matter and no new life could be produced.
 2. Abiotic Components-

A. Physical factors:- Those physical factors which affect the biotic activities in any way,
from the physical environment .
Example:- Temperature, Rain, Humidity and Light etc.

B. Chemical factors:- These present in ecosystem can regulate the activities of autotrophs and
Heterotrophs.

a.) Inorganic substances- It includes water, elements and gases.

- Elements: Oxygen, Nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc, copper etc.

b.) Organic substances- These substances help to establish relation between biotic and abiotic
Components.
Example:- Protein, lipids and carbohydrates, amino acids etc.c
 Functions of Ecosystem

The ecosystem’s function is to maintain its various parts working together. It is a natural process of a
transfer of energy in different biotic and abiotic elements of the world. Ecosystems maintain all the
important ecological processes. Ecosystems have different functional units those are:

Note:- Ecological process refers to transfer of energy through abiotic components(food, oxygen) from one
living to another living entity.
Ex: photosynthesis, decomposition.

Functioning of ecosystem can be discussed as follows-

1. Food chain
2. Food web
3. Ecological pyramids
4. Energy flow
 1.Food Chain
The sequence of eating and being
eaten in an ecosystem is known as
food chain.
Some common examples of simple food
chains are:
-Grass → grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Hawk (Grassland ecosystem )

-Phytoplankton’s → water fleas → small fish → Tuna (Pond ecosystem)

Decomposer
The cycle of energy starts with solar energy. The
chain of energy transfer from one level to the
topmost level is known as the food chain. Plants
absorb solar energy and produce/process their
own food. Later on, herbivores feed on the plants
for energy. Similarly, carnivores and omnivores Top carnivore
feed on them for energy.
All the biotic components in food chain are divided into levels from lower to higher called trophic levels.
(producers consumers decomposers)

There are two types of food chain:

a) Grazing food chain

b) Detritus food chain

a) Grazing food chain:- It starts with the green plants goes to grazing herbivores and on to carnivores. Such
type of food chain is directly dependent on solar radiation.
Ex- grass Deer Panther

b) Detritus food chain:- It starts from dead organic matter, which is eaten by animals and animals are
eaten by other animals. These depend on organic matter produced in another system. This food chain is not
directly dependent on solar energy.
Ex- on next slide
Ex- Leaf litter → algae → crabs → small carnivorous fish → large carnivorous fish (Mangrove ecosystem)

Dead organic matter → fungi → bacteria (Forest ecosystem) .

Dead mangrove leaves

Small fish

Detritus feeders Carnivores big fish

Phytoplanktons

Decomposers (Bacteria, fungi)

A detritus food chain in an estuary based on dead leaves of mangrove trees

The interconnected food 2. Food Webs
chain is known as
the food web. In nature
mostly food webs are
common instead of the
food chain.

When the feeding

relationship becomes
more complicated, the
food chain does not
remain simple, rather it is
multiplied by several
interconnected
overlapping food chains
which is known as food
web.
Thus, “food web is a
network of food chains “
 3.Ecological Pyramids
• The idea of ecological pyramids was first of all given by Charles Elton in 1927.

• Ecological pyramids are also known as Eltonian pyramid.

Definition: The graphical representation of number, biomass and stored energy of various trophic
levels of food chain in an ecosystem is called ecological pyramids.
The number of species, the total biomass and availability of energy decreases with successive higher
Level in food chain in such a manner that the shape looks like a pyramid, this is called Ecological pyramid.
Types of ecological pyramids

Pyramid of energy
Pyramid of numbers
Pyramid of biomass
 Pyramid of numbers
This pyramid shows the relationship between producers and consumers of different trophic levels in terms
of their numbers. These are classified into the following:
a) Upright pyramid of numbers
b) Inverted pyramid of numbers

a) Upright pyramid of numbers:- If the size of producers is very small in comparison to the size of consumer
The pyramid of numbers is upright.

b) Inverted pyramid of numbers:-

The producers like a few big trees harbor fruit eating birds acting like herbivores which are larger in number.
A much higher number of lice, bugs etc. grow as parasites on these birds while a still greater number
of hyper parasites like bugs, fleas and microbes feed upon them, thus making an inverted pyramid.
 Pyramids of Numbers

Hawks
T4 Hyper parasites Fleas, Top Others birds
T4
microbes carnivores

T3 Parasites Lice, bugs

T3 Carnivores Frogs, birds

T2
T2 Herbivores Birds Herbivores Insects,Deer

T1 Producer Trees T1 Producer Grasses

Inverted pyramid of numbers Upright pyramid of numbers

Tree ecosystem Grass field ecosystem

 Pyramids of Biomass

• It is based upon the total biomass (dry matter) at each trophic level in a food chain. The pyramid of biomass
can also be upright or inverted.
• Shows the total biomass of each trophic level. Biomass decreases as you move up the pyramid.
These are classified into the following:

a) Upright pyramid of biomass

b) Inverted pyramid of biomass

a) Upright pyramid of biomass:- It is opposite in orientation from inverted pyramid of numbers , where in the
biomass decrease from bottom to top.

b) Inverted pyramid of biomass:- The upright pyramid of numbers becomes inverted pyramid of biomass, where
the biomass increases from bottom to top.
 Pyramids of Biomass
Fleas, microbes
T4
Top Hawks
carnivores Others big
T4 carnivores
T3 Lice, bugs
T3 Carnivores Frogs, birds

T2 Birds(dead bodies &

by products T2 Herbivores Insects(Grasshopper)

T1
Trees(leaves & branches) T1 Producer Grasses(least biomass)

Upright pyramid of Biomass Inverted pyramid of Biomass

Tree ecosystem Grass field ecosystem

 Pyramid of Energy:

• The amount of energy present at each trophic level is considered for this type of pyramid. Pyramid of
energy gives the best representation of the trophic relationships and it is always upright.

• At every successive trophic level, there is a huge loss of energy (about 90%) in the form of heat,
breathing etc. Thus, at each next higher level only 10% of the energy passes on. Hence, there is a sharp
decline in energy level of each upward trophic level as we move from producers to top carnivores.
Therefore, the pyramid of energy is always upright.
Lion, Tiger

Snakes, Fox

Cow, Rabbit,Deer

Trees, plants
grass
 Energy Flow

Energy Flow

1 Primary Production

Primary producers capture solar energy

through photosynthesis, converting it into
Trophic Levels 2 chemical energy stored in organic
Energy flows from one trophic level to compounds.
another as organisms eat and are eaten,
with energy being lost as heat during
each transfer. 3 Decomposition

When organisms die, decomposers

break down their remains, releasing
energy back into the ecosystem as part
of the nutrient cycle.